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Food stamps: 'Scottish aristocrats' accused of fraud while living on yacht; Portland single mothers featured in TIME

jennifer noonan 1.JPG

Jennifer Noonan, 24, and her children, Taima Willeto (left) and Wenona Willeto receive cash assistance for needy families, food stamps and a federal housing voucher. Noonan says she's desperate to get off welfare by getting an education but will postpone community college to participate in a required job training program.
(Yuxing Zheng/The Oregonian/2013)

A Minnesota couple who fancied themselves "Scottish aristocrats" and insisted on being called "Lord" and "Lady" are accused of stealing $167,000 in welfare, food stamps and medical assistance while living on a $1.2 million yacht.

For the past month, Hennepin County Sheriff's department has been
searching for the couple who are still at large, according to a
statement issued by the Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman.

"Mr. ... sorry. Lord and Lady Chisholm the third, are fraudsters of the
first degree," Freeman said. "These folks ripped off the system."

The Chisholms began claiming public assistance in Minnesota in 2005
after telling authorities they were living with Andrea's mother in
Minneapolis. Just weeks after the pair applied for assistance, they also
bought an 83-foot yacht for $1.2 million in Florida, which they lived
on for 28 months, according to the complaint. They were also claiming
benefits in Florida at the same time as they were collecting money in
Minnesota, the complaint said.

The couple also allegedly failed to report the nearly $3 million they
had deposited in various bank accounts "to support their lavish
lifestyle," and concealed that they had lived in luxury lakeside homes
in Deepahaven since 2008 when they moved back to Minnesota, the
complaint said.